"If conditions allowed," Steve said softly, eyes lowered,
"I'd like nothing more than to be a healthy, happy, ordinary person." His words silenced Bucky.
The more they had stepped into society, the more they had realized… the world was far more complicated, and far crueler, than they had once believed.
Silence stretched between them.
Years of shared hardship gave them a wordless understanding.
Bucky didn't try to persuade him further. Instead, he placed a firm hand on Steve's shoulder.
"My brother." Bucky said quietly, "No matter what the future brings, I'll be with you."
"Even if we end up in hell."
They looked at each other.
Their bond needed no more words.
…
Outside the window, Garfield, Queenie, Midnight, and Shōkyū stood still. Goosebumps rose across all four of them.
Garfield sniffed dramatically. "What profound brotherhood… I feel sour with envy."
"Envious, hateful, stinky cat." Shōkyū scoffed. If you go to hell, no man would bother saving you."
Garfield thought about it seriously. "…That's probably true. My current cat life is rather hate-inducing."
Midnight leaned over and added with calm sincerity, "Don't worry. Hell wouldn't accept you in your current condition."
Queenie hugged Garfield quietly, saying nothing. Only she knew what was stirring in her heart.
After watching Steve and Bucky a little longer and mentally 'eating a few lemons' Garfield flicked his tail and led the group away.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Garfield's expression grew thoughtful.
The Hand… and the Council, he mused. Their reach is extending. I can't ignore them any longer.
After careful consideration, Garfield made his decision.
"Izuna." He said, "You'll take Kumatarō and Kumajirō and deal with the Hand."
Izuna's intelligence far surpassed the other two. He would serve as the perfect wedge… a nail driven straight into the enemy's organization.
"Kumatarō and Kumajirō," Garfield continued,
"You'll work with Rin. Your priority is the security of the High Claw Group. If Izuna encounters danger, you provide immediate support."
Izuna nodded without hesitation.
"I have no objections," He said. "I'd also like to experience their so-called ninjutsu."
Garfield chuckled softly. "You'll be disappointed. Their strength is far inferior to your world's."
"Infiltrate them. Rise through their ranks. Accumulate power."
"And when the time comes, destroy this cancer at its root."
"Understood, Lord Garfield." Izuna's eyes sharpened.
…
That night, Garfield returned home and summoned the Ninja Cat Clan.
Five ninja cats were selected.
One signed a contract with Izuna
One with Rin
One with Kumatarō
One with Kumajirō
And one remained with Queenie, ensuring constant communication Everything was set.
One problem solved, another was already approaching.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
The next day, Howard arrived as scheduled.
The moment he stepped into Garfield's shop, his expression stiffened.
He didn't feel envy. Every newcomer present radiated danger far greater than Rin ever had.
Then his gaze landed on a very small fox curled beside Midnight.
Howard stiffened completely.
"That…" He whispered, trembling, "That's a nine-tailed fox. A big monster."
ΩДΩ
Garfield rolled his eyes. "Idiot. What do you know?"
"Shōkyū isn't one of those man-eating creatures from crude legends."
"She's a super-being born from the power of a tailed beast."
"She eats meat, yes, but she does not eat people."
Howard swallowed, curiosity overtaking fear.
He stared at Shōkyū for a long moment, then gestured uncertainly. "She's… smaller than an apple."
"What kind of power could possibly be contained in something that size?"
Garfield fell silent.
Truthfully, even he wasn't entirely sure.
Ten tails.
The world tree.
Extracted world-origin power.
The structure was far more complex than the five elements and clearly beyond the framework of ordinary tailed beasts.
Garfield rubbed his chin for a moment, then gave Howard a distinctly improvised answer.
"It's a kind of power capable of destroying a world." He said calmly. "It was created by a world-level boss who tore apart a creature that once ended civilizations."
"The details don't concern you. Let's focus on what does."
Howard hesitated, then nodded.
After all, worlds ending was apparently just another entry in Garfield's mental ledger…
Interesting, but not urgent.
Howard quietly noted it down in his small notebook for future research.
Business first.
Stark Industries… Orders and Intent
Garfield flicked a claw. "Current orders quantities and destinations Stark Industries."
Howard handed over a thick stack of reports and data, then obediently sat on a small bench, waiting.
As a cat and more importantly, an orange cat, did Garfield seriously intend to read all of this?
Of course not.
He skimmed only what mattered… numbers, countries, patterns. The rest was irrelevant.
There were professionals to handle operations. Loyalty was simple, a binding spell and a salary generous enough to make betrayal irrational.
That was sufficient.
One line in the report, however, made Garfield's eyes narrow.
An island nation had submitted a request to purchase large-tonnage forging presses.
Garfield paused.
Those machines were not civilian tools. They were used to manufacture massive ship components, armor plating, hull sections… the foundation of large surface warships.
"So." Garfield muttered,
"They intend to expand maritime military power."
At first, Garfield had no intention of approving the sale. Then he reconsidered.
If they were allowed to grow reckless… they would inevitably provoke the true behemoth.
And once Earth was forced to enter the war, the fools pulling strings behind Japan would receive a lesson they would never forget.
A lesson that would save countless other countries and lives from disaster.
Not to mention, their navy and army were notoriously at odds. Internal friction alone would weaken them.
"Hehehe." Garfield's lips curled.
He pointed at the order. "Sell it to them."
"…Sell it?" Howard blinked.
"Yes," Garfield continued.
"At a premium price."
"Core components will be modular."
"And install a safety system."
"If they dare dismantle it for research," Garfield said flatly, "The machine will self-destruct."
Howard frowned. "Garfield… I thought you disliked them. Why help at all?"
Garfield turned to him, expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Let me explain something," Garfield said. "Over ninety percent of known wars are not started by nations themselves."
"They're instigated by shadow organizations, groups with holes in their brains and ambitions far beyond their intelligence."
"They're only one piece."
"Behind them are several organizations quietly brewing conflict, hoping to profit from chaos."
"That… that's possible?" Howard's eyes widened.
Garfield raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't it be?"
"You already know cats can talk."
"You know wizards exist."
Howard opened his mouth, then closed it. "…Fair point."
"Then why not eliminate them?" Howard asked. "Why not remove their leaders?"
Garfield snorted. "If I assassinate a few high-ranking officials and their families without evidence."
"I become a madman."
"A criminal."
"The world won't thank me and will hunt me."
"The ones pulling the strings rely on that." He leaned forward.
"So we do the opposite."
"When we know their plans, when they think they're prepared, we disrupt their layout."
"Force them into mistakes."
"And when they're exposed and off-balance," Garfield finished, "We crush them with overwhelming advantage."
Howard stared at the floor, deep in thought, weighing every word.
After a long moment, he shook his head slowly. "…I still think there might be another way."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream